How to write a website accessibility statement

An accessibility statement is a page on your website that says how accessible the site is, what is still being worked on, and how to reach a person if something does not work. It builds trust with visitors, gives people a way to report barriers before they become complaints, and shows good faith if anyone ever asks what you have done.

Do you need one?

The ADA does not generally require a statement for a private website, though some rules, grants and procurement processes expect one and it is standard practice for public bodies. Even where it is optional, a statement is cheap, visible proof of effort. What matters is that it is true: an inaccurate statement is worse than none.

What to include

1. Your commitment. One or two sentences saying accessibility matters to your organization.
2. The standard you aim for. Usually WCAG 2.2 Level AA. Name the version and level.
3. Your honest conformance status. Fully conformant, partially conformant or not conformant. If a scan found issues, "partially conformant" is the accurate choice.
4. Known limitations. List what is still not accessible, in plain language, ideally with when you expect to fix it. Listing limitations builds credibility.
5. How the site was assessed. Automated scanning, manual testing, or a third-party evaluation, and the date.
6. A way to give feedback. An email address or form, and how quickly you will respond.
7. Alternatives. How someone can get the information another way, such as by phone, while a barrier is fixed.
8. The date. When the statement was last reviewed.

Be careful with "fully compliant"

Automated tools cover only part of WCAG, so a clean scan does not prove a site conforms. A safer way to say it is that automated testing found no issues and that manual testing is still needed for a full determination. Overstating conformance can turn a statement into evidence against you, and understating it costs nothing.

Keep it current

• Review it after significant site changes and at least once a year.
• Update the limitations list as you fix things, and the date each time.
• Read and answer the feedback you receive. An unmonitored mailbox defeats the purpose.
• Link to it from your footer so it is easy to find.

Generate one from your scan

The Monitor and Pro plans include a statement generator. It writes the conformance status and the known limitations from your latest complete scan, hosts the page for you, and gives you a badge to link from your footer. It never claims full conformance. See how it works or compare plans. The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative also publishes a free accessibility statement generator if you prefer to write one by hand.

For background on why this matters by sector, see the guides for government, healthcare and private businesses.